When King Kay Kavus at last found his heart eased of the world's endless turmoil, he turned his soul toward the Almighty Creator in sublime devotion. Bowing his head before God, he prayed: 'O Thou who art exalted above time and the cosmos, the eternal master of all good! Thou didst bestow upon me the Royal Glory, the throne, the crown, and endless treasures. I beseechingly prayed that Thou mightest raise a champion to avenge the innocent blood of Siyavash, and now I have beheld my own grandson, Kay Khosrow—a ruler adorned with wisdom, divine grace, and the noble customs of the ancient kings.' As the venerable monarch reached the age of one hundred and fifty years, his stature once straight as a cypress bent like a bow, and his raven locks turned white as camphor. Satisfied with his legacy, he welcomed the end of his mortal span, and ere long, his spirit took flight to the eternal realm.
Upon his passing, Kay Khosrow took the throne, and the entirety of Iran was plunged into profound mourning. Champions and noble lords divested themselves of all finery, walking barefoot and clad in deep black and azure robes for two full weeks. By the young king's decree, an elevated royal mausoleum—ten lariats in height—was constructed. The body of Kavus was cleansed and preserved with fragrant aloe, musk, and camphor, wrapped in royal Roman brocades and exquisite Dabiq silks, and laid upon a grand ivory throne topped with a crown woven of camphor and musk. Once Kay Khosrow bade his final farewell, the doors of the crypt were sealed forever, granting the old king eternal rest from war and vengeance.
Such is the inescapable order of this fleeting world; none abide here forever, nor can the wise scholar or the iron-clad warrior escape the clutch of mortality. Whether one be a mighty emperor or the Prophet Zoroaster himself, the ultimate bed is of dust and the pillow of clay. Earth becomes the final mattress, and the grave the last garment.
Kay Khosrow maintained solemn grief for forty days, keeping distant from all delights of the court. When the mourning period concluded, he ascended the magnificent ivory throne and placed the heart-brightening crown of the Kianians upon his brow. Assembled generals, mobads, and golden-helmeted magnates offered praises and showered priceless jewels upon his crown. A grand feast erupted across the entire world, signaling the dawn of a vibrant era of justice and jubilation under the reign of Kay Khosrow.
#1
چو با ایمنی گشت کاووس جفت
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همه راز دل پیش یزدان بگفت
“When Kay Kavus felt secure and untroubled in heart, he revealed all his soul's secrets in prayer to God.”
#2
چنین گفت کای برتر از روزگار
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تو باشی به هر نیکی آموزگار
“He prayed, 'O Lord exalted above the turning heavens! Thou art the supreme guide unto every goodness.”
#3
ز تو یافتم فر و اورنگ و بخت
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بزرگی و دیهیم و هم تاج و تخت
“From Thee I received divine fortune, the sublime throne, power, glory, and the sovereign crown.”
#4
تو کردی کسی را چو من بهرمند
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ز گنج و ز تخت و ز نام بلند
“Thou didst grant unto a servant like me such abundance of treasure, royal seat, and elevated renown.”
#5
ز تو خواستم تا یکی کینه‌ور
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به کین سیاوش ببندد کمر
“I besought Thee to raise an avenger who would gird his loins to avenge the blood of Siyavash.”
#6
نبیره بدیدم جهانبین خویش
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به فرهنگ و تدبیر و آیین خویش
“And now I have beheld my own grandson, the eye of my world, adorned with wisdom, leadership, and royal custom.”
#7
جهانجوی با فر و برز و خرد
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ز شاهان پیشینگان بگذرد
“A world-seeker endowed with divine grace, splendor, and wisdom, who surpasses the monarchs of ancient times.'”
#8
چو سالم سه پنجاه بر سر گذشت
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سر موی مشکین چو کافور گشت
“'Now that my years have exceeded one hundred and fifty, the raven hair of my head has turned white as camphor.”
#9
همان سرو یازنده شد چون کمان
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ندارم گران گر سرآید زمان
“My tall stature, once like a soaring cypress, is bent like a bow; I hold it no grievance if my appointed time arrives.'”
#10
بسی برنیامد بر این روزگار
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کزو ماند نام از جهان یادگار
“Not much time elapsed after this prayer before he passed away, leaving his noble memory behind in the world.”
#11
جهاندار کیخسرو آمد به گاه
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نشست از بر زیرگه با سپاه
“Then Kay Khosrow, ruler of the world, assumed governance and sat in solemn state with his army.”
#12
از ایرانیان هرکه بد نامجوی
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پیاده برفتند بی‌رنگ و بوی
“Whosoever among the Iranians sought honor walked on foot, stripped of all perfume and embellishment.”
#13
همه جامه‌هاشان کبود و سیاه
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دو هفته ببودند با سوگ شاه
“Garbed in garments of dark blue and black, they remained in deep mourning for their king for two full weeks.”
#14
ز بهر ستودانش کاخی بلند
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بکردند بالای او ده کمند
“To serve as his grand tomb, they erected a lofty tower whose height reached ten lariats.”
#15
ببردند پس نامداران شاه
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دبیقی و دیبای رومی سیاه
“Then the noble chieftains of the realm brought Dabiq silk and fine black Roman brocade.”
#16
بر او تافته عود و کافور و مشک
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تنش را بدو در بکردند خشک
“They dried and embalmed his body with pure essence of aloe, camphor, and fragrant musk.”
#17
نهادند زیر اندرش تخت عاج
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به سر بر ز کافور وز مشک تاج
“They placed an ivory throne beneath him and set upon his head a royal crown fashioned of camphor and musk.”
#18
چو برگشت کیخسرو از پیش تخت
✦
در خوابگه را ببستند سخت
“When Kay Khosrow turned back from before the throne, they firmly sealed the portal of that silent bedchamber.”
#19
کسی نیز کاووس کی را ندید
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ز کین و ز آوردگاه آرمید
“No mortal ever beheld Kay Kavus again; he found tranquility at last, far from battlefields and vendettas.”
#20
چنینست رسم سرای سپنج
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نمانی در او جاودانه مرنج
“Such is the custom of this transitory inn; thou shalt not abide herein forever, so torment not thy heart.”
#21
نه دانا گذر یابد از چنگ مرگ
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نه جنگ‌آوران زیر خفتان و ترگ
“Neither the wise sage finds escape from death's grasp, nor the armored warriors beneath helmet and mail.”
#22
اگر شاه باشی وگر زردهشت
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نهالی ز خاکست و بالین ز خشت
“Whether thou art a sovereign king or Zoroaster himself, thy bed shall be of earth and thy pillow of brick.”
#23
چنان دان که گیتی ترا دشمنست
✦
زمین بستر و گور پیراهنست
“Know that this mortal world is thy foe; the earth shall be thy mattress and the tomb thy final garment.”
#24
چهل روز سوگ نیا داشت شاه
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ز شادی شده دور وز تاج و گاه
“For forty days the king remained in mourning for his grandfather, far removed from joy, throne, and crown.”
#25
پس آنگه نشست از بر تخت عاج
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به سر برنهاد آن دل‌افروز تاج
“Thereafter he ascended the ivory throne and placed that heart-brightening crown upon his brow.”
#26
سپاه انجمن شد به درگاه شاه
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ردان و بزرگان زرین کلاه
“The whole host assembled at the royal court—chieftains and noble magnates clad in golden helmets.”
#27
به شاهی بر او آفرین خواندند
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بر آن تاج بر گوهر افشاندند
“They chanted blessings upon his sovereignty and showered precious jewels upon that royal crown.”
#28
یکی سور بد در جهان سر به سر
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چو بر تخت بنشست پیروزگر
“A glorious feast resounded across all the earth when the victorious monarch sat firmly upon his throne.”